Sensible and Proportionate Health and Safety Risk
Management in Schools and Children's Centres
THE MYTH – “Egg boxes are banned in craft lessons because they
might cause salmonella"
Produced by Calderdale MBC Corporate Health and Safety Team in Association with the
Yorkshire Regional Safety Officer Group. Date of issue December 2009.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
Sensible and Proportionate Health and Safety Risk Management in
Schools and Children's Centres
What’s Nut’s and What’s Not!
This guidance document has been put together with the aim of helping Head Teachers
get through what some people believe is a “health and safety mine field”. This minefield
however is often created by a minority of people with a good intention but a lack of
actual safety knowledge. In reality health and safety management should be very
pragmatic and sensible. We have included advice in the tables below on all areas of
safety in schools from the things that have been in the media that are obviously nuts
(table 1 page 6), to the key areas of risk that need to be well managed (table 2 page
10).
The media however continue to pick up on stories and the
actions of a tiny minority of Head Teachers in the UK who may
have misinterpreted legal requirements and taken an over
zealous approach to health and safety risk management.
Some of these media reports seem to imply the end of
civilisation as we know it. So what’s the truth?
The focus of the stories often focus on the mean faceless beaurocrats, zealots,
extremists etc who have stopped the local village fete or the pancake race, or the
school egg and spoon race; events that have been running for years(?) without any
problem until these mean people have stopped them on "elf ’n’safety" grounds. The
truth is usually very different. It might be that the event organiser is asked to find some
insurance for the event, or the Insurance premium for the event has gone up, or the
insurance company or the Council want an event plan for the day, or the Police will not
attend the event without payment for officer time. Suddenly faced with these obstacles
the event is too much trouble or too expensive and the cry goes out "stopped on elf
’n’safety grounds".
There is another less obvious reason how these stories develop. We asked one of our
organisers why they had let the local press run the story "Last year for bonfire, health
and safety red tape threatens event!" when there was no problem in reality....the reply
"it guarantees we sell all the tickets!"
Thousands of events take place in our parks and schools safely every year, they are
insured and there are good event plans in place. Everyone acknowledges the need for
appropriate control measures that match the scale and nature of the event. Do we really
want an event with hundreds of thousands of people to be unmanaged, uninsured and
with no one responsible for the event?
"Calderdale Council approves hundreds of small and large events in Parks annually.
Calderdale MBC has never stopped an event in 25 years! Occasionally safety advisers
ask for better controls e.g. more stewards, a first aider on site, a lost children point etc
This is what the public expect!"
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
If the Council does not do what is sensible people can lose their lives at events as can
be seen from a number of tragic events that have been reported by the media.
Examples: - Dreamscape- 7 people died in a Park in Durham when the inflatable
exhibition unit blew over. Head teachers have also died setting off firework mortars and
people have been crushed to death at Festivals etc (there are many examples).
Council Policy
To prevent activities being stopped inappropriately under the banner of health and
safety, Councillor’s for Calderdale have made it Council Policy “that any manager
[considering] stopping or banning an activity or closing a building [for health and
safety reasons] must consult with the Council’s Health and Safety Adviser first.
Insurance Myths
“If a pupil is hurt the teacher is likely
to be sued”. This never happens.
The Council is vicariously
responsible for the actions of their
employees. Obviously if a teacher is
very reckless and a child is seriously
injured or killed then that teacher
could be prosecuted under criminal
law and either fined or jailed. This
has only happened in a handful of
cases in the past 30 years and
usually when a child has died and it
has been proved a teacher was very
reckless and had disregarded
reasonable safety precautions. In
most cases when there is serious
injury and significant failings in a
school it is the employer who is
taken to task through the Courts. In
none of these cases was the
teacher sued.
The Myth “If a pupil is hurt the teacher is likely to be sued”
Insurance problems are often exaggerated. People believe that claims for compensation
for accident in schools are rising and that insurance cover will not be provided for
certain activities. This is a myth. Generally if the school wants to do something exciting
and involving exposure to controlled risks the Insurance Officer will accept the risk if
competent advice has been sought and the Council’s Health and Safety Adviser is
consulted and the required reasonable controls are in place.
If someone, a dad or a child for example trips up in the egg and spoon race or breaks
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
an arm falling in the sack race, it might be tempting to ban that activity in the future.
Accidents and injuries will happen, for example when a dad gets over competitive or if a
child falls over in the hoop throwing but this is no reason alone not to continue with the
activity. . Obviously if someone has died or was paralysed during an event activity then
there would be reason to review what happened and consider the foreseeability of the
injury arising and whether the precautions were reasonable. It does not necessarily
mean that additional controls are needed or the activity should be stopped. That’s the
time to take advice from a professional safety adviser.
Sensible and Proportionate in School
School staff can do just about any activity involving risk as long as there are adequate
and reasonable controls in place. The problem often comes when there is a bit of effort
required to manage the risk, or there is another reason why a manager does not want to
do the activity, they then use health and safety as a convenient excuse. People with
common sense can see straight though this excuse and this is how it starts. People talk
about it, it escalates and suddenly the media have their story!] [However, sometimes
the person in charge cannot see an obvious and straightforward way of dealing with the
risk and perhaps hasn’t sought or received advice from relevant professionals who have
experience of controlling the risk and may be able to help. In these cases it can be
tempting to simply prevent the activity going ahead and remove the problem. In reality a
short time spent considering the issues and perhaps seeking appropriate expert advice
usually offers a workable solution. Using health and safety as an excuse not to do
something can attract adverse criticism and most importantly it can detract attention
from managing the real risks – then the media have their story!]
The best advice to your staff is tell the truth, don’t hide behind the convenient excuse of
health and safety it may come back to bite you! If for example there are some boys who
keep fighting over football in the playground and you want to stop football for a while
because of it don’t use health and safety as the excuse.
The other challenge for Head Teachers is occasionally an unrealistic expectation from
parents and communities. Children will have injuries, fall and break bones etc but that
does not automatically mean we should stop doing that activity. If the control measures
were adequate we should continue. For example a child going on a dry ski slope
properly supervised, helmets and all the gear could fall and break a leg, this
understandable and can be expected, we should not ban the activity. Teachers need to
be firm with overprotective parents and explain that exposure to reasonable risk is part
of education and essential child development.
Children have been involved in fatal accidents on educational visits but this does not
mean we stop those activities. Parents will naturally worry when they know their children
are rock climbing, pot holing or canoeing. However if the school has followed the
educational visits guidance and procedures, which are reasonable and proportionate
the parents fears or misgivings can be addressed confidently.
The truth is many of these stories we hear about in the press are made up, are half
truths and are very rarely the whole truth. Unfortunately however they are often
believed, or at least cast an impression that appears accurate to the general public.
They tend to make good stories and offer entertainment to the reader.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
Statement by Calderdale Health and Safety Manager – “I have worked as a
Safety Adviser for 25 years, in that time I have not stopped, banned or closed more
than a handful of activities. Those which I have stopped have been things like
stopping men working on roofs without edge protection, stopping the use of a circular
saw because essential guards were missing or stopping access into a boiler house
because there was asbestos debris all over the floor. If someone has to ask “who’s
banned that on health and safety grounds?” you can be fairly certain a safety adviser
was not involved. The job of a safety adviser is to give good sensible advice to make
sure the Council can do and deliver any activity or any service……with reasonable
safety controls in place”.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE VIEW POINT
Obviously as the enforcing authority for health and safety HSE’s point of view is
important to understand.
The HSE ran a campaign to fight this misrepresentation of health and safety called
“myth of the month” which debunked reports in the media that were found to be
nonsense on closer examination and unrelated to legal requirements or sensible risk
control. More recently the HSE has set up the Myth Busters Challenge Panel which
independently considers whether a decision made on health & safety grounds has been
disproportionate or inaccurate.
See http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm
Unfortunately it seems that no matter how often the truth is told, or how much
information the HSE and other responsible Health and Safety practitioners provide–the
media often find a way to miss-represent the risks and the facts.
Since 2007 the HSE have been responding directly to media stories to put the record
straight. Below is a typical “Nuts” story with the very clear and sensible response from
the HSE:
Telegraph article: Safety rules kill off kids’
‘Brit spirit’
Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair, responds, 7 July 2009
Dear Sir,
I am puzzled as to why your article “Britain Losing Spirit of Adventure” (7 July, page 4)
blames health and safety rules for stopping children taking risks, when it is very clearly
the case that Simon Woodruff himself has acknowledged that HSE has assured him
‘that regulations to prompt such behaviour simply don’t exist’.
Risk is a necessary part of growing up and we have made it very clear that we want
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
children to experience risk and learn how to handle it. That’s why HSE fully supports
children taking part in well-run school activities, including school trips, where they can
learn how to manage risk. We support Simon Woodruff in his call to ‘break these
barriers down’ and applaud the sentiments of the HTI’s (Heads, Teachers and Industry)
GO4IT campaign.
We also share Simon’s concerns about getting to the heart of what is really stopping
important recreational and learning activities, but we need your help to identify the real
issues not this persistent misrepresentation of the role of the regulator where rules
really do not exist.
Yours faithfully
Judith Hackitt
Chair, Health and Safety Executive
A typical response by Bill Callaghan, then Chair of the Health and Safety Commission ,
to a misleading article in the Daily Express as follows:
"Your reporter Jo Willey (when Britain was free of health and Safety fanatics; 5 April
2006) forgot to mention that in the 1960s over 1,200 people each year were killed at
work. Last year’s figure, 220 was an even smaller proportion of an even bigger
workforce.”
You may think health and safety is a laughing matter. I call the increased protection of
people at work progress and the hallmark of a civilised society”
The media often state that the HSE or health and safety law is responsible for banning
all sorts of things. For example, flip flops at work, knitting in hospitals, school sports
days, a charity Christmas swim and even cuddly toys on dustbin lorries.
Actually, the reality is Health and Safety law and or the
HSE have banned very little outright, apart from a very few
high-risk exceptions (e.g. the production and most uses of
asbestos, for which exposure-related diseases account for
over 4,000 deaths a year). HSE believes that health and
safety should be about taking practical steps to manage
real risks, not bureaucracy leading to the banning of
everyday activities.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
So what are the risks we can stop worrying about and what are the risks we need
to manage well? What’s nuts and what’s not?
For the stuff that’s nuts see table 1. (Red)
For a list of the real risks in school that need good management see table 2
(green). All these areas of risk are covered in the annual safety audit
completed by all Head Teachers in Calderdale schools.
(All the examples below have been reported in the press or have come to the
attention of Council Safety Advisers in Yorkshire.)
TABLE 1 - WHATS NUTS!
(a) What’s Nuts
(b)Sensible solution (summary)

Banning conkers
Let them play. No controls required.

Banning Plasters!
Check which children are allergic to plasters give that
info to teachers and simply do not put plasters on
children who are allergic.

Banning sports day
because it’s too hot!
Supply plenty of water bottles, cover up and use
natural and other shade etc. Obviously if it’s too wet it
may be sensible to postpone the event as running at
speed on wet grass without the right footwear is going
to be risky. However it is obviously possible to brave
the rain and do a less competitive sports day!

Banning sports day
because the playing field
has some holes in or is
uneven.
Put some sand in the holes, find better areas of the
field where the race events can be run. If the field is so
bad it should be out of bounds (for play and activities)
at all times until it is repaired!

Asking teachers parents to
sign a disclaimer.
It’s meaningless, does not secure safety and would not
stand up to any scrutiny in a court case. Look at what
the activity is, make sure there is a suitable risk
assessment in place, seek advice from Insurers and
Safety Advisers.

Banning Christmas,
seasonal (or any other)
Decorations!
Be sensible, don’t use candles near paper and never
leave candles unattended when lit, plug the fairy lights
into a circuit breaker and check them before using, etc

Banning children throwing
snow balls
Let them play. If it gets out of hand take the trouble
makers inside.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)

Banning games in the
playground like skipping
and football
Let them play. Use a lightweight ball. (If they are used
as weapons by some children, supervise). If you have
a reason, other than safety why you don’t want these
activities in the playground explain this to staff, parents
and children. Don’t use health and safety as an
excuse.

Banning any major outdoor
school events like
shows/fairs/bonfires/firewor
ks etc on health and safety
grounds
Carry out a risk assessment on all significant risks at
the event and then write an event plan if necessary.
Obviously bonfires and fireworks are potentially a risk
and should be well managed. For events involving
fireworks and bonfires send a copy of the event safety
plan 14 days before the event to the Council's Safety
Adviser who will give you advice. If it’s a big event run
by parents or another voluntary organisation on school
land ask them to give you an event plan, their
Insurance details and tell them about any known risks
on the site if there are any. If its low risk stuff no action
or event plan is required. If in doubt or if it involves
something potentially dangerous consult with your
safety adviser and or look at the HSE and Calderdale
event/bonfire/firework guidance.

Banning egg boxes or toilet
rolls for making models
Provided the boxes or rolls are clean they can be used
(HSE advice!)

Making it policy that trained
first aiders cannot give first
aid to someone who is not
an employee of the
school/Council! You might
be sued etc!
Trained first aiders can give first aid to anyone they
choose. There has been no single case of any first
aider being sued in the UK and it is extremely
improbable that such action would ever succeed.

Banning the general
wearing of jewelry on
health and safety grounds

Banning flip flops
The only time this could be justified on health and
safety grounds would be children or staff working in
design technology with machinery [or in PE lessons,
sports matches or similar physical activities]
Calderdale safety team has never received a report of
an injury from jewelry (25 years of records). If it is
school policy to ban jewelry make this clear – don’t use
health and safety as an excuse.
There are areas in the school where as an employer
we insist sensible footwear is worn or provide safety
footwear e.g. kitchen, boiler house, CDT workshop etc.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
The school may have rules about footwear as part of
uniform requirements and as sensible precautions to
ensure pupils (and teachers) are prepared for any
activities they may be involved in.

Banning step ladders or
normal ladders!
Ladders do present a serious risk so you need good
control measures, the simplest is always make sure
staff have someone footing them in a school
environment. If someone needs access to something
high up for more than 20 minutes the question has to
be asked "is a ladder the right equipment"
(loads of Calderdale and HSE advice on Work at
Height Regulations)

Putting a warning sign up,
but not doing something
about the hazard.
Signs are a bonus but not the solution. Beware the use
of too many signs or redundant signs.

Banning paddling pools
Ensure good supervision. Empty paddling pool at night
and prevent access unless supervision provided.

Banning any traditional
school sports day
activity/event e.g. sack
race, egg and spoon etc
Carry on

Banning Hanging baskets
Check they have been put up properly and the
supports are suitable!

Banning gritting in winter!
We might get sued!!
Carry on gritting! Very sensible to reduce risk of staff,
parents and children falling. See safety guidance
Calderdale

Banning animals in school,
dogs, frogs, guinea pigs,
mice, chickens etc
Make an assessment. Follow HSE and RSPCA advice
on petting animals. Wash hands after handling etc

Banning Pond dipping (and
Ponds)
Follow CLEAPPS/DCSF advice

Banning cake
making/eating or giving
mum a bun made by child
Food hygiene regulations do not apply unless food is
sold. Ask children to clean their hands as best as
possible. Buns made from fresh ingredients on the day
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
because the child may
have dirty finger nails etc!
by children who may not have the cleanest hands will
be safe provided the ingredients have been cooked in
an oven.

Banning children playing
under fruit trees in case an
apple etc fell
Carry on.

All contractors who come
into school have to be DBS
checked
Make sure the contractor is adequately supervised,
make sure toilets where contractors are working are
closed off etc

Cutting down conker trees
because kids might climb
the trees.
Leave trees alone. (any doubt about their integrity call
the Council’s forestry team for advice)

Banning parents doing a
low risk project at the
school like building a pond,
making a garden area or
decorating a classroom.
Check and warn the group about any known risks, like
asbestos ceiling tiles or a gas pipe where they are
going to dig the pond. Also do not lend any school
equipment like ladders etc.
Do not let any school employee supervise or be
involved on the day because this changes it from a
voluntary activity to a work activity and changes the
responsibilities
Ask parents to minimise the risks by making sure
someone supervising work is very competent, work
from height is properly controlled, any equipment
(power tools etc) used is safe and any chemical
products used are very low risk etc.
NB Parents must not be doing any electrical, gas or
risky construction work involving the fabric of the
building.
NB Ensure pond design incorporates protection for
young children. Seek advice from H&S adviser.
See HSE advice “Charity and voluntary workers a
guide to health and safety”

Stopping children cycling to
school
Involve Road Safety department and give advice to
parents.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)

Closing school on health
and safety grounds
because:-

Of temporary loss of hot
water



Of temporary loss of water
for drinking or toilets
Temporary loss of heating
Snow
- Get temporary supply (bottled water and or bowser
from Yorkshire Water) Use up the header tanks first
(only flush solids)
- All wear coats
- Clear snow and grit and/or indoor play.


Ice
No electrical supply
- Grit
- Supply torches, whistles/bells for raising the alarm etc
Schools may have other valid reasons for closing the
school because of these issues but schools should be
careful not to use health and safety as a convenient
excuse.
Have a business continuity plan; E.g.
- let children wash hands in cold water/supply hand
wipes
Consult Calderdale business continuity officer and
Schools Safety Adviser and see guidance on gritting.
NB THIS LIST IS NOT THE
WHOLE "WHAT'S NUTS" LIST
BUT WE BELIEVE IT COVERS
ALL THE PRESS REPORTED
ISSUES RELATING TO
SCHOOLS UPTO 2009
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
TABLE 2 - THE REAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS (covered in the
Calderdale School Self Audit)
The Real Risks for Schools to
manage

Sensible management (summary
more info available)
Contractors in school - E.g.
contractor falling from height
during maintenance, or dropping
materials from roof onto children.
(Contractor died falling in
Calderdale school)
Only employ competent contractors
(Chas compliant), get method
statements, isolate contractors on site
from school activities, warn contractor of
any known site risks, etc

Educational visits - Children have
died, often in fact in water related
accidents. Very few compared to
numbers taking part.
Follow all DCSF advice and ensure all
category 3, 4 and 5 trips are approved by
Calderdale School Safety Adviser.

Transport (Minibuses/coaches/cars)
E.g. Children have been in fatal
accidents when teachers have
fallen asleep at the wheel of a
minibus.
Follow all Calderdale policy and
guidance on minibus/cars and coaches.

Asbestos - Teachers have died
from asbestosis. (Although proof
that their exposure to asbestos
was completely down to the
school environment has not been
established. Obviously hundreds
of contractors who have worked in
buildings containing asbestos
have died from exposure to
asbestos).
Ensure asbestos is managed and in safe
condition. Surveys done, asbestos
register up to date,
contractors/caretakers/staff etc all know
where it is (is not) before they start work
on fabric of school.
See Calderdale advice “Contractor
Management Guidance”
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)

Teachers falling off chairs, desks
or step ladders - HSE report
hundreds of serious injuries are
caused by this.
Make sure Calderdale ladder policy is
followed. Provide adequate number of
step ladders (BS Class1) Make it school
policy to always foot ladders and not
stand on tables and chairs.

Electrical - Staff and children have
been electrocuted in schools
Make sure all portable equipment in
school is tested and main electrical
system is maintained by CHAS compliant
contractors.

Knife Crime in senior schools E.g. Head teachers, pupils have
been stabbed and died as a result
of injuries.
Paedophiles interfering with
children - E.g. Ian Huntley
Follow home office advice and use Police
in education projects.

Fire - No one has died in a school
fire in the UK but Calderdale has
had fires in schools during
occupation and they have had to
carry out emergency evacuation.
Make sure you have a fire risk
assessment, maintain fire alarm systems
etc and if you hire the school hall out for
a concert etc make sure you give the
safe occupancy level and make the hirer
aware of the evacuation and fire alarm
systems.

Building Structure/perimeter walls
and fences -
Ensure walls and structures that are
obviously deteriorating/bowing/collapsing
are isolated and checked by a structural
engineer.

Design technology equipment -
Ensure all machinery and equipment is
maintained to BS4163 and all staff are
trained.

Water related drowning incidents Unfortunately about 40 children
die every year in rivers, ponds and
open water.
Make sure access to school ponds is
protected inside and outside school
hours. Make sure any access to rivers on
the perimeter of the school are well

Ensure all appropriate safety checks
are in place
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
protected. Always ensure school trips on
or near the water/sea are well organized
and ensure approval is given from
School Safety Adviser as per Calderdale
Policy. If your school has a swimming
pool follow HSE guidance.

Allergic Reactions food/nuts/wasp
stings etc - Although rare a child
has died as a result of an allergic
reaction in a school in Yorkshire.
Ensure all teachers and catering staff are
adequately informed about children with
severe allergic reactions. Ensure training
on the use of “epipens” is in place and
ensure advice from the Food Standards
Agency is followed in school kitchens.

Slips and falls - Accounting for
30% of all reportable injuries.
Follow HSE and Calderdale guidance on
prevention of falls. Key floor areas are
school entrance, kitchen, slopes,
changing rooms.

Fingers being amputated in doors
in schools - Unfortunately up until
the introduction of the finger safe
products this was a regular
problem in Calderdale Primary
schools.
Fit finger guards on the hinge side of
doors particularly in and around
reception and nursery classrooms.

Playground equipment injuries -
Playground equipment should be fitted
by a reputable organisation, it should be
age appropriate and checked by
Calderdale Playground Officer (or other
competent person) post installation and
maintained properly with weekly
inspections

Children trespassing and receiving
injuries - Sadly many children
have died falling off school
property or through sky lights etc
outside school hours.
Unfortunately the school has a duty
towards children who trespass on their
property. The law is complex in this area
but much of this duty relates to what is
foreseeable, which means if you know
children are on the roof every weekend
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
you have to do something reasonable to
prevent it e.g. identifying the children,
anti vandal measures, calling the police
etc
Guard radiators in nurseries and
reception and limit water temperature in
showers and taps to 43 degrees.

Hot water and hot surfaces
(radiators) - Main risk is to those
with learning difficulties and
nursery children.

Legionella - Although children may
feel ill if contracted, no child has
died from legionella, the main risk
is to staff. Main risk in Calderdale
schools is showers.
Ensure a risk assessment of the water
system is carried out and the water
system, header tanks, valves, etc are
well maintained. Seek expert advice.

After School Clubs
Make sure after school club staff:- (a) are
trained if using commercial kitchen
equipment and food hygiene (b) have
risk assessments in place (c) are DBS
checked (d) have adequate supervision
ratio's in place (e) are aware of your site
rules and evacuation procedures etc.

Kitchen injuries - Burns, cuts, falls. Competent trained staff, compliance with
Food Hygiene Regulations, risk
assessment and safe operating
procedures in place. Much advice
available.

Gas Safety - Explosion/fire/leaks
Ensure all gas systems, boilers, heaters,
cookers, design technology, science gas
taps etc are properly maintained by
CHAS compliant contractors. Have a gas
emergency evacuation procedure.
Ensure all LPG and welding bottles are
safe by position/secure and maintained.
See Calderdale guidance “Maintenance
and testing of building installations”.

Manual handling injuries Accounting for 20% of lost time
accidents in Calderdale
Ensure unnecessary lifting and handling
is avoided, suitable handling equipment
is purchased, risk assessments are in
place and all staff involved in manual
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
handling are trained.

Trees - The chances of a tree
losing a limb and landing on a
child are remote but this has
happened locally.
Get advice on any large overhanging
trees from Calderdale forestry section.
Disease/faults can be observed by
trained staff.

Security - e.g. Worst scenario
Dumblane, more likely irate parent
assaulting teacher.
Follow guidance from Calderdale on
security and dealing with violence and
aggression.

Reversing vehicles - Cause a
large number of site fatalities in
industry
Check and make sure refuse and
delivery drivers understand where you
expect them to turn round/reverse etc
and at what times you expect them to
call.

Event safety

Lifts/hoists - Very few accidents
now in UK related to this subject
mainly because of strong
Regulation and Insurance
involvement.
Inadequate first Aid Arrangements
See Calderdale Event Safety guidance
and sensible advice table 1.
Follow LOLER Regulations and
Calderdale guidance. Ensure all lifts and
hoists are registered with Insurance
Officer.


Glazing - Several life threatening
cases with children going through
glazing in Calderdale.


School Sport - Javelin, discus,
rugby etc have risks of injuries are
expected.
Work-related Stress

Poor playground supervision

Chemicals - Cleaning chemicals
left in areas accessible to young
children or, science chemicals not
secure and being stolen by pupils
who have then used them in a
Ensure you have adequate trained first
aiders for numbers of persons in school.
Ensure glazing risk assessment in place
for the school and ensure CHAS
compliant glass fitter replaces any
damaged glass to correct standard.
Follow advice “Safe practice in physical
Education and School Sport”, no
problem.
Follow HSE, DCSF and Calderdale
guidance.
Assess playground supervision, make
sure it’s reasonable, document in risk
assessment.
Ensure all chemicals used in school are
well controlled. COSHH assessment in
place.
See guidance Calderdale and CLEAPPS.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)
dangerous way. This has
happened and the Police have
had to evacuate a Calderdale
school etc.


Leaving prescribed
medicines/drugs in insecure
places e.g. unlocked teachers
drawer. Children taking an
overdose from medicines left out
Untrained staff!
Have a clear secure medicines/drugs
policy in school.
Make sure all employees have a basic
induction on health and safety and are
given school safety policy and relevant
Calderdale Bite Size H&S leaflets.
See health and safety training
programme.
Date of Issue: December 2009 (minor amendments 2014)